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Insulating a detached garage won't reduce your home's heating or cooling bills—and insulating an attached garage will only have a small effect on your home's energy efficiency. However, insulating an attached garage can reduce the transfer of heating and cooling to and from the outdoors, which can reduce the amount of energy your home needs to stay comfortable. Also, having an insulated garage is just more pleasant. Balance the cost of insulating your garage with how you'll use the space to determine if the project is worth it.

Freeze-proof faucets can still benefit from insulation, and they will need covers if you live somewhere with extremely cold winter temperatures. These faucets work with a design that keeps excess water in the pipes inside the home to minimize the risk of freezing, plus a downward slope for any water flowing through the pipes to keep moving. But keeping a cover on all faucets, even freeze-proof fixtures, is the best way to avoid frozen and burst pipes.

The lifespan of cellulose insulation is 20 to 30 years, on average. That said, it’s important to start checking your insulation after year 10 to check for degradation, mold, mildew, and other potential problems. Every 10 years, you should also confirm your home’s insulation is in line with updated local building codes.

Closed-cell spray foam insulation itself serves as a vapor barrier (or vapor retarder). However, you may need to install a vapor barrier if you have open-cell spray foam insulation. When in doubt, work with a professional insulation contractor, as they can provide more detail about the specific needs of your home in your climate.